View source for Ramayana: The Legend of Prince Rama

{{short description|1992 film by Yugo Sako}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Use Indian English|date=November 2015}}
{{italic title}}
{{Infobox film
| italic_title   = Ramayana LOPR
| name           = Ramayana: The Legend of Prince Rama
| image          = Ramayana, The Legend of Prince Rama.jpg
| alt            = Ramayana LOPR
| caption        = DVD cover
| native_name    = 
| director       = Koichi Sasaki <br /> [[Ram Mohan]] <br /> [[Yugo Sako]] <br />
| producer       = [[Yugo Sako]] <br /> Kenji Yoshii <br /> Atsushi Matsuo
| writer         = 
| screenplay     = [[Narendra Sharma]] <br /> Rani Burra <br /> [[Ram Mohan]] <br /> Koichi Sasaki <br /> Hiroshi Onogi  <br /> Ram Mohan  <br /> Yugo Sako
| story          = 
| based_on       = {{based on|''[[Ramayana]]''|[[Valmiki]]}}
| starring       = Nikhil Kapoor <br />Rael Padamsee <br /> Uday Mathan <br /> Mishal Varma <br />Noel Godin
| narrator       = 
| music          = [[Vanraj Bhatia]]
| cinematography = 
| editing        = 
| animator       = Kazuyuki Kobayashi
| layout_artist  = 
| distributor    = TEM Co., Ltd. <br /> Geek Pictures India Pvt Ltd <br /> Excel Entertainment <br /> AA Films (Theatrical, 2024)
| released       = {{Film date|df=yes|1993|1|10|International Film Festival of India|1997|11|3|Japan}}
| runtime        = 135 minutes
| country        = Japan <br />India
| language       = English
| background_artist = 
| color_process  = 
| studio         = Nippon Ramayana Film Co.
| budget         = ¥800 million<ref>{{Cite web |title=Overview of the film |url=https://ramayana-anime.net/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220209083700/https://ramayana-anime.net/ |archive-date=9 February 2022 |access-date=6 February 2022 |website=Ramayana: The Legend of Prince Rama}}</ref>
| gross          = 
}}

'''''Ramayana: The Legend of Prince Rama''''' is a 1993 [[anime film]] co-produced by Japan and India; produced and directed by [[Yugo Sako]]. It is based on the [[Indian epic]] ''[[Ramayana]]''.<ref name="ramaenc">{{cite web |last1=Bharule |first1=Shreyas |title=Ramayana: The Legend of Prince Rama (Japan) |url=https://cgimunich.gov.in/public_files/assets/pdf/The-Global-Encyclopaedia-of-the-Ramayana_full-Interactive.pdf6 |website=Pages 182-183 of "The Global Encyclopaedia of the Ramayana" uploaded to the website of the Consulate General of India, Munich, Germany |access-date=11 July 2023 |language=en-IN |date=2021 |archive-date=26 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240226090428/https://cgimunich.gov.in/public_files/assets/pdf/The-Global-Encyclopaedia-of-the-Ramayana_full-Interactive.pdf6 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=Singh |first=Supriya |date=2022-03-19 |title=Groundbreaking "Ramayana" anime remastered for new audience 30 years on |url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2022/03/19/films/ramayana/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220325053456/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2022/03/19/films/ramayana/ |archive-date=25 March 2022 |access-date=2022-03-26 |website=[[The Japan Times]] |language=en-US}}</ref> The film was directed by Koichi Sasaki and [[Ram Mohan]], with music composed by [[Vanraj Bhatia]]. The film was first released in India at the [[24th International Film Festival of India]]. It was also screened at the 1993 Vancouver International Film Festival. Subsequently, a Hindi dubbed version was released in the late 1990s.

== Premise ==
The king of [[Ayodhya (Ramayana)|Ayodhya]], [[Dasharatha]] is forced by his third wife [[Kaikeyi]], on the basis of a boon promised by himself, to exile prince [[Rama]] for 14 years, where Rama, along with his brother [[Lakshmana]] and wife [[Sita]], departs from Ayodhya and starts a new life in the forests of [[Panchavati]] until [[Ravana]], the demon king of [[Lanka]], abducts Sita in order to retaliate Rama for his sister, [[Shurpanakha|Shurpanakha's]] dishonor. Not finding Sita at the hut where they resided, Rama and Lakshmana set out to rescue Sita and find [[Jatayu]], who tells him about Sita's abduction committed by Ravana. Moving on, they find [[Hanuman]] and [[Sugriva]], the king of [[Kishkindha]] who leads an army of forest dwelling people called [[Vanara]]s, and seek their help. The Vanaras are generally depicted as humanoid apes, or human-like beings. They come to know about Ravana's residence in Lanka by Jatayu's elder brother [[Sampati]]. Then, the army of Rama forays towards Lanka, defeats Ravana's army and Rama gets his wife back. In the end, Rama along with his people, returns to Ayodhya where the residents of Ayodhya welcome them festively.

== Voice cast ==

=== English ===
* Nikhil Kapoor - [[Rama]]
* Rael Padamsee – [[Sita]]
* Uday Mathan – [[Ravana]]
* Mishal Varma – [[Lakshmana]]
* Noel Godin – [[Hanuman]]
* Bulbul Mukherjee – [[Dasharatha]]
* Madhulika Varma – [[Kaikeyi]]
* [[Rahul Bose]] – [[Bharata (Ramayana)|Bharata]]
* [[Pearl Padamsee]] – [[Manthara]]
* Bhargava Krishna – [[Kumbhakarna]]
* Shagufta Jaffrey – [[Shurpanakha]]
* Easo Vivin Mathew – [[Indrajit]]
* [[Denzil Smith]] – [[Sugriva]]
* [[Cyrus Broacha]] – [[Angada]]
* Dodo Bhujwala – Additional Voices
* Rohan Arthur – Additional Voices
* Avi Shroff – Additional Voices
* Akash Sharma S - Additional Voices
* Salome Parikh – Additional Voices
* Farid Saboonchi – Additional Voices
* Leeya Mehta – Additional Voices

=== Hindi ===
* [[Shatrughan Sinha]] – Narrator
* [[Arun Govil]] – [[Rama]]
* [[Namrata Sawhney]] – [[Sita]]
* [[Shakti Singh (actor)|Shakti Singh]] – [[Lakshmana]]
* Adarsh Gautam – [[Bharata (Ramayana)|Bharata]]
* Dilip Sinha – [[Hanuman]]
* [[Amrish Puri]] – [[Ravana]]
* Harjeet Walia – [[Dasharatha]]
* [[Sava]] – [[Kaikeyi]]
* Manju Bhatia – [[Manthara]]
* Rakesh Vidua – [[Jatayu]]
* [[Umesh Sharma]] – [[Jambavan]]
* [[Raj Joshi]] – [[Sugriva]]
* [[Pradeep Shukla]] – [[Kumbhakarna]]

== Production ==
=== Development ===
In 1983, while working on "The Ramayana Relics" a documentary film about excavations by [[B. B. Lal (archaeologist)|Dr. B. B. Lal]] near [[Allahabad]] in Uttar Pradesh (India) Yugo Sako came to know about the story of Ramayana. He liked the story of the Ramayana so much that he researched deeper into the topic and went on to read 10 versions of the Ramayana in Japanese. After reading the Ramayana he wanted to adapt it into animation as he didn't think a live-action movie could capture the true essence of Ramayana, "Because Ram is God, I felt it was best to depict him in animation, rather than by an actor."

''[[The Indian Express]]'' published an article about Yugo Sako's "The Ramayana Relics" documentary on 25 April 1983. Soon thereafter, a protest letter based on the misunderstanding from the [[Vishva Hindu Parishad]] was received by the Japanese Embassy in Delhi, which said that no foreigners could arbitrarily cinematize Ramayana because it was the great national heritage of India.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=2002-06-08 |title=Prince of Light: Production |url=http://princeoflightmovie.com/production.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020609002919/http://princeoflightmovie.com/production.html |archive-date=9 June 2002 |access-date=2015-12-28}}</ref> After the misconceptions were cleared, Yugo Sako proposed the idea of an animated Ramayana to the VHP and the government. He told them that animation was a serious art form in Japan and it would help bring the Ramayana to a wider global audience. The Government agreed initially, but later declined his proposal for a bi-nation collaboration, saying the Ramayana is a very sensitive subject and cannot be portrayed as a cartoon. Also, the fact that the movie was being made at the height of the [[Ayodhya dispute]], added to the controversy and axed the prospects of producing it in India.But there has been no protest or ban on the production and distribution of the film by the India Government or any particular religious group.<ref name="199304HT">{{Cite web |title=VIDEO REVIEWS – Magazine Web Edition > June 1993 – Publications – Hinduism Today Magazine |url=https://www.hinduismtoday.com/magazine/april-1993/1993-04-ramayana-animated/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211004202410/https://www.hinduismtoday.com/magazine/april-1993/1993-04-ramayana-animated/ |archive-date=4 October 2021 |access-date=2015-12-28 |website=hinduismtoday.com|date=April 1993 }}</ref>

With no choice and support left, the movie was decided to raise all production funds in Japan and to produce with artists from both nations.<ref name="199304HT" /><ref name=":0" /> TEM Co., Ltd. financed the production and a new production studio Nippon Ramayana Film Co., Ltd. was set up<ref name="ramaenc" /><ref name="tufscinema">{{Cite web |title=Screening of "Ramayana: The Legend of Prince Rama", an animated film co-produced by Japan and India |url=https://tufscinema.jp/200110-2/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220206090607/https://tufscinema.jp/200110-2/ |archive-date=6 February 2022 |access-date=2022-02-06 |website=Tokyo University of Foreign Studies Cinema |language=ja}}</ref> and the principal animation of the film began in 1990 with 450 artists on board. Indian animators guided their Japanese teammates with Indian customs and traditions depicted in the film like how dhotis are worn and how the children receive blessings from their elders.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Melwani |first=Lavina |date=April 2001 |title=Yugo Sako's Ramayan Odyssey |url=http://www.beliefnet.com/Faiths/Hinduism/2001/04/Yugo-Sakos-Ramayan-Odyssey.aspx?p=2 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180905220306/http://www.beliefnet.com/faiths/hinduism/2001/04/yugo-sakos-ramayan-odyssey.aspx?p=2 |archive-date=5 September 2018 |access-date=2015-12-28 |website=Beliefnet}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=Ram Mohan – Biography, Works, Interview, etc. at Design in India |url=http://designinindia.net/design-thoughts/masters/ram-mohan/interview-ramayana-meers-sara.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303193958/http://www.designinindia.net/design-thoughts/masters/ram-mohan/interview-ramayana-meers-sara.html |archive-date=3 March 2016 |access-date=2015-12-28 |website=designinindia.net}}</ref>

== Music ==
{{Infobox album
| name         = Ramayana: The Legend of Prince Rama
| type         = soundtrack
| artist       = [[Vanraj Bhatia]]
| cover        = 
| alt          = 
| released     = 1993
| genre        = Anime film soundtrack
| language     = {{ubl|[[Sanskrit]]|[[Hindi]]}}
}}

There are different songs for the '''Original English Version''' (sung in [[Sanskrit]]) and the '''Hindi Dub version''' (sung in [[Hindi]]), both are listed below.{{Track listing
| headline      = English version (Sanskrit track listing)
| extra_column  = Singer(s)
| all_lyrics    = [[Vasant Dev]]
| title1        = Panchvati Man Bhavan Upwan
| extra1        = [[Kavita Krishnamurthy]]
| title2        = Janani Main Ramdoot Hanuman
| extra2        = Vinod Rathod
| title3        = Nirjhar Jal
| extra3        = [[Suresh Wadkar]] & [[Kavita Krishnamurthy]]
| title4        = Shri Raghuvar Ki Vanar Sena
| extra4        = Chorus
| title5        = Jai Lankeshwar
| extra5        = Chorus
}}

{{Track listing
| headline      = Hindi version (Hindi track listing)
| extra_column  = Singer(s)
| all_lyrics    = P.K. Mishra
| title1        = Sumiran Karle Mannwa
| extra1        = [[Kavita Krishnamurthy]]
| title2        = Panchvati Man Bhavan Upwan
| extra2        = [[Sadhana Sargam]]
| title3        = Janani Main Rama Doot Hanuman
| extra3        = [[Udit Narayan]]
| title4        = Ashru Nayan Se
| extra4        = [[Hariharan (singer)|Hariharan]] & [[Kavita Krishnamurthy]]
| title5        = Shri Raghuvar Ki Vaanar Sena
| extra5        = Chorus
| title6        = Jai Lankeshwar
| extra6        = Chorus
| title7        = Ram Bolo
| extra7        = Channi Singh
}}

== Release ==
The original English version with [[Sanskrit]] songs was worked on by teams from both countries and was screened for the first time at 24th [[International Film Festival of India]], New Delhi, 10–20 January 1993.<ref name="21thiffi">{{Cite web |title=24th International Film Festival: Grim celluloid images mirror turmoil of recent events |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/society-the-arts/films/story/19930215-24th-international-film-festival-grim-celluloid-images-mirror-turmoil-of-recent-events-810689-1993-02-15 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220321101616/https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/society-the-arts/films/story/19930215-24th-international-film-festival-grim-celluloid-images-mirror-turmoil-of-recent-events-810689-1993-02-15 |archive-date=21 March 2022 |access-date=2022-03-21 |website=India Today}}</ref> The film was also shown at the 1993 [[Vancouver International Film Festival]].<ref name=":3">{{Cite news |last=Peter |first=Birnie |date=4 June 1993 |title=Film Festival: Franey finds hunt for film fare fascinating |pages=31 |work=[[Vancouver Sun]]|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/98420903/ramayana-anime/ |url-status=live |access-date=26 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220326154930/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/98420903/ramayana-anime/ |archive-date=26 March 2022}}</ref>

The Hindi dub version was released in the late 1990s. [[Arun Govil]],<ref name=":5" /><ref name=":6" /> who is popularly known for playing the role of Rama in [[Ramayan (1987 TV series)]] voiced Prince Rama in the version.

This film was distributed as a work in the 40th Anniversary of the Establishment of the Diplomatic Relations between Japan and India. All India Distribution was by [[Kamal Haasan|Kamal Hassan]], Rajan Lall and Shringar Films.<ref name=":5">{{Citation |last=Nippon Ramayana Films |title=Ramayana Old Hindi Credits |url=https://archive.org/details/ramayana-old-hindi-credits |access-date=2024-08-25}}</ref><ref name=":6">{{Cite web |date=2012-09-22 |title=Shringar - Distributed Films |url=http://www.shringar.co.in/distributed-film.html |access-date=2024-09-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120922004427/http://www.shringar.co.in/distributed-film.html |archive-date=22 September 2012 }}</ref>  The film was not theatrically released on a large scale as the [[Ram Janmabhoomi]] (Birthplace) Movement was at its peak and the movie embroiled in controversy. However it had a limited theatrical run in some parts of India in April 1997<ref>{{Cite web |title=1997 Theatrical Screening of the Ramayana anime film in India |url=https://x.com/RamayanaAnime/status/1837114337519145226 }}</ref> and was screened in Japan at the [[:ja:東京国際ファンタスティック映画祭|Tokyo International Fantastic Film Festival]] in on 3 November 1997<ref>{{Citation |title=Ramayana Tokyo International Film Festival |url=https://archive.org/details/ramayana-tokyo-international-film-festival |access-date=2024-09-22}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Ramayana Tokyo International Fantastic Film Festival Schedule |url=https://archive.org/details/ramayana-tokyo-international-film-festival-program_202409 }}</ref> and in at [[Yokohama Landmark Tower|Yokohama Landmark Hall]] in Yokohama on 10 November 1997.<ref>{{Cite web |author=Yokohama Indian cultural exchange committe |title=横浜インド文化交流会 これまでの活動 |url=http://india.hamacco.net/history.html |access-date=2024-09-22 |website=india.hamacco.net}}</ref> Later, it was released on TV channels [[Cartoon Network (Indian TV channel)|Cartoon Network]] and [[Pogo (TV channel)|Pogo]] repeatedly <ref>{{cite web |last1=Rajeev |first1=M. |title=Animated films failed because of content |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/ldquoAnimated-films-failed-because-of-contentrdquo/article15527752.ece |website=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=10 July 2022 |language=en-IN |date=21 January 2011 |archive-date=10 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220710144935/https://www.thehindu.com/features/cinema/ldquoAnimated-films-failed-because-of-contentrdquo/article15527752.ece |url-status=live |url-access=subscription }}</ref> and DVD of this work was also sold.<ref>{{Cite web |title=University of Wisconsin-Madison |url=https://search.library.wisc.edu/catalog/9911009467202121 |access-date=2024-09-20 |website=search.library.wisc.edu}}</ref> It was the opening film of the 2000 [[Lucca]] Animation Film Festival in Italy, a highlight of the [[Cardiff]] Animation Film Festival in the United Kingdom.

Official activity stopped after the TV broadcast in India in 2006, but the film was shown in Japan at a mini-theatre [[:ja:シネマノヴェチェント|Cinema Novecento]] in Yokohama from 1 September 2018 to 30 September 2019<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cinema Novecento's official website |url=https://cinema1900.wixsite.com/home/8-25-31 |access-date=2024-09-21 |website=cinema1900.wixsite.com}}</ref> and at an event at [[Tokyo University of Foreign Studies]] on 10 January 2020,<ref>{{Cite web |title=日印共作長編アニメーション『ラーマーヤナ ラーマ王子伝説』をフィルム上映 |url=https://www.tufs.ac.jp/NEWS/trend/200121_4.html |access-date=2024-09-21 |website=www.tufs.ac.jp}}</ref> both in 35mm film was screened using.<ref>{{Cite web |title=「ラーマーヤナ ラーマ王子伝説」が横浜シネマノヴェチェントに還ってきた！ |author=Tetsuya Asano|url=https://note.com/aram_project/n/nb12a033ea57e |access-date=2024-09-21 |website=note.com|date=14 September 2022 }}</ref>

Megumu Ishiguro, co-founder and former President of [[Doga Kobo|Doga Kobo Animation Studio]], the Production Controller and [[key animator]] on the film, toured India in 2020 to talk to fans about the animation process and promote the remaster project, organised by AIMAP and the [[Japan Foundation]].<ref  name="2020ishiguro">{{Cite web |title=Facebook |url=https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=2793926047350958&set=a.2789678101109086 |access-date=2024-09-19 |website=facebook.com}}</ref> The tour began with a Retrospective event by Graphiti Animation for the late [[Ram Mohan]] in association with [[Films Division of India|Films Division]] in Mumbai on February 11, 2020,<ref name="2020RamMohanRetrospective">{{Cite web |title=Facebook |url=https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=2794524327291130&set=a.2789678101109086 |access-date=2024-10-04 |website=facebook.com}}</ref> and continued until February 26, with talks and exchanges in Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, Palanpur, Nagpur, Bengaluru, Chennai and New Delhi.<ref name="2020ishiguro" /> Kenji Yoshii, the assistant producer for the film and a director of TEM Co., Ltd, also attended the retrospective event and declared at that time that TEM will digitally remaster and release the work again.<ref name="2020RamMohanRetrospective" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Instagram |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/DAQG_q4SmXr/ |access-date=2024-10-02 |website=www.instagram.com}}</ref>

In December 2021, an official website was launched with an announcement that a digitally remastered version will be released.

2022 was an important year for both countries as they marked 70 years of India-Japan relations. On the occasion of the 70th Anniversary Year, the 4K digitally remastered film was launched during the 5th edition of Japanese Film Festival in India, along with 10 other films.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Japanese Film Festival India 2022 English theatre-plays Play in Bengaluru Tickets |url=https://in.bookmyshow.com/plays/japanese-film-festival-india-2022/ET00320951 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220309204439/https://in.bookmyshow.com/plays/japanese-film-festival-india-2022/ET00320951 |archive-date=9 March 2022 |access-date=2022-03-26 |website=BookMyShow |language=en}}</ref> Atsushi Matsuo, the executive producer, and Kenji Yoshii, the assistant producer met the Indian Prime Minister [[Narendra Modi]] and informed him of the release of the digitally remastered version of the film during his visit to Japan in May 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Instagram |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/CeBtZvvPU6R/ |access-date=2024-09-19 |website=www.instagram.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=1469&v=Y5_wacGRA2o&feature=youtu.be |title=PM Modi's Mann Ki Baat with the Nation, May 2022 {{!}} Mann ki Baat 89th Episode |date=2022-05-28 |last=Narendra Modi |access-date=2024-09-19 |via=YouTube}}</ref>

Special screenings for the [[4K Ultra HD]] remaster were conducted in various countries:

# [[Japanese Film Festival]] 2022, [[New Delhi]] (March 4–7, 2022)<ref>{{Cite web |last=NEWS |first=ACN |date=2022-03-01 |title=11 Japanese films including 'Ramayana: The Legend of Prince Rama' on PVR from Friday |url=https://www.asiancommunitynews.com/11-japanese-films-including-ramayana-the-legend-of-prince-rama-on-pvr-from-friday/ |access-date=2024-09-19 |website=Asian Community News |language=en-US}}</ref>
# 70th edition of the [[Mumbai International Film Festival]]&nbsp;(MIFF) 2022 (May 31, 2022)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Government of India |first=Ministry of Information and Broadcasting |date=2022-05-28 |title=Press Release about the Ramayana screening at MIFF 2022 |url=https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1828954 |website=pib.gov.in}}</ref>
# [[Sitges Film Festival]] 2022, [[Sitges]] (October 6, 2022)<ref>{{Cite web |title=RAMAYANA: THE LEGEND OF PRINCE RAMA {{!}} Sitges Film Festival |url=https://sitgesfilmfestival.com/en/film/2022/ramayana-legend-prince-rama |access-date=2024-09-19 |website=sitgesfilmfestival.com |language=en}}</ref>
# Animation Is Film (October 23, 2022) A major animation festival produced by [[GKIDS]] in collaboration with [[Annecy International Animation Film Festival]] and [[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] in Hollywood<ref>{{Cite web |title=Indo-Japanese collaborative anime classic 'Ramayana: The Legend of Prince Rama' to get screened at Animation Is Film festival on 23 October - |url=https://www.animationxpress.com/latest-news/indo-japanese-collaborative-anime-classic-ramayana-the-legend-of-prince-rama-to-get-screened-at-animation-is-film-festival-on-23-october/ |access-date=2024-09-19 |website=www.animationxpress.com}}</ref>
# [[Japan Society (Manhattan)|Japan Society]], New York (January 20, 2023)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ramayana: The Legend of Prince Rama |url=https://japansociety.org/events/ramayana-the-legend-of-prince-rama/ |access-date=2024-09-19 |website=Japan Society |language=en-US}}</ref>
# [[Vancouver International Film Festival]] 2023 (June 25–26, 2023)<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-06-14 |title=Ramayana: The Legend of Prince Rama {{!}} Vancouver International Film Festival |url=https://viff.org/whats-on/ramayana/ |access-date=2024-09-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230614154539/https://viff.org/whats-on/ramayana/ |archive-date=14 June 2023 }}</ref>
# ANIMIX Festival in TelAviv, Israel (July 15 and August 10, 2023)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ramayana: The Legend of Prince Rama {{!}} קולנוע קנדה (סולדאאוט) {{!}} הזמנת כרטיסים |url=https://ticks.co.il/event.php?i=7kq2IeVoh01 |access-date=2024-09-19 |website=ticks.co.il}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-07-10 |title=ראמהיאנה: האגדה על הנסיך ראמה {{!}} אנימיקס 2023 |url=https://www.cinema.co.il/event/%D7%A8%D7%90%D7%9E%D7%94%D7%99%D7%90%D7%A0%D7%94-%D7%94%D7%90%D7%92%D7%93%D7%94-%D7%A2%D7%9C-%D7%94%D7%A0%D7%A1%D7%99%D7%9A-%D7%A8%D7%90%D7%9E%D7%94-%D7%90%D7%A0%D7%99%D7%9E%D7%99%D7%A7%D7%A1/ |access-date=2024-09-19 |website=סינמטק תל אביב |language=he-IL}}</ref>
# [[Fantasia International Film Festival]] 2023 in Montreal, Canada (August 5, 2023)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Fantasia Festival {{!}} Ramayana - The Legend of Prince Rama |url=https://2023.fantasiafestival.com/en/film/ramayana-the-legend-of-prince-rama |access-date=2024-09-19 |website=Fantasia Festival |language=en-US}}</ref>
# In various Japanese cities between 2022 and 2023<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.dreampass.jp/m84148 |title=「ラーマーヤナ／ラーマ王子伝説」を映画館で上映しよう！ |language=ja |access-date=2024-09-19 |via=www.dreampass.jp}}</ref>
# 2 screenings were held in London in 2023 at the central London venue of The Prince Charles Cinema, off Leicester Square of the remaster by a long-standing follower and supporter of the film, Ravi Swami, who wrote the first review of the film outside of India or Japan in the 1993 U.K publication "Anime UK", edited by Helen McCarthy, and acting as sales agent for the film via TEM.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Swami |first1=Ravi |title=Ramayana: The Legend of Prince Rama Will Have London Screening on July 29 |url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2023-05-28/ramayana-the-legend-of-prince-rama-will-have-london-screening-on-july-29/.198546 |access-date=23 September 2024}}</ref>

On September 19, new [[Hindi]], [[Tamil language|Tamil]], and [[Telugu language|Telugu]] versions were released by [[:ja:ギークピクチュアズ|Geek Pictures]], with [[V. Vijayendra Prasad]] as creative director. Remastered 4K versions of both the new and original English dubs were to be screened across India,<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mJahGSGPVNQ |title=Ramayana: The Legend of Prince Rama - Theatrical release in India on Oct 18 |date=2024-09-19 |last=Ramayana : The Legend Of Prince Rama |access-date=2024-10-07 |via=YouTube}}</ref> but as of 11 October 2024, theatrical screenings have been postponed.<ref>{{Cite web |title=rescheduling of 'Ramayana : The Legend of Prince Rama' |url=https://x.com/geekpictures_IN/status/1844634739212476864 }}</ref>

== Reception ==
When it was screened at the Vancouver International Film Festival, festival director Alan Franey called the film "extraordinary", and said "The backgrounds are done in beautiful detail, while the foreground characters are an Indian version of the Disney style, with big dewey eyes."<ref name=":3" />

Ken Eisner, writing in ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' in 1993, was critical of the film, saying the film is "relentlessly paced" and "not even great to look at."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Eisner |first=Ken |date=5 December 1993 |title=Ramayana: The Legend of Prince Rama |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |url=https://variety.com/1993/film/reviews/ramayana-the-legend-of-prince-rama-1200434899/#! |url-status=live |access-date=26 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170324001501/http://variety.com/1993/film/reviews/ramayana-the-legend-of-prince-rama-1200434899/#! |archive-date=24 March 2017}}</ref> Madhu Jain of [[India Today]] called it a "charming film, despite some minor errors". She further wrote, "Sita looks like [[Snow White]] in a saffron sari and Ram, lily white, bows and moves like a Samurai warrior. One would expect him to say sayonara any moment."<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Jain |first=Madhu |date=15 February 1993 |title=Reflecting reality |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/society-and-the-arts/films/story/19930215-24th-international-film-festival-grim-celluloid-images-mirror-turmoil-of-recent-events-810689-1993-02-14 |magazine=[[India Today]] |location=New Delhi |publisher=[[Living Media]] |access-date=26 February 2024 |archive-date=21 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220321101616/https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/society-the-arts/films/story/19930215-24th-international-film-festival-grim-celluloid-images-mirror-turmoil-of-recent-events-810689-1993-02-15 |url-status=live |url-access=subscription}}</ref>

== Alternative version ==
=== The Prince of Light: The Legend of Ramayana ===

In the United States, the film was released as T''he Prince of Light: The Legend of Ramayana'', or ''Warrior Prince'', by [[Krishna Shah]] and Showcase Entertainment.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> This version was released in a further localized English dub with narration by [[James Earl Jones]], prince [[Rama]] voiced by [[Bryan Cranston]], additional music by [[Alan Howarth (composer)|Alan Howarth]] and the runtime being shortened to 90 minutes.<ref>{{Cite news |date=4 February 2021 |title=Did you know Hollywood star Bryan Cranston voiced for Lord Ram in the animated film 'The Prince of Light: The Legend of Ramayana |work=[[The Times of India]] |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/did-you-know/did-you-know-hollywood-star-bryan-cranston-voiced-for-lord-ram-in-the-animated-film-the-prince-of-light-the-legend-of-ramayana/articleshow/80678311.cms |url-status=live |access-date=26 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210204033147/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/did-you-know/did-you-know-hollywood-star-bryan-cranston-voiced-for-lord-ram-in-the-animated-film-the-prince-of-light-the-legend-of-ramayana/articleshow/80678311.cms |archive-date=4 February 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Citation |title=Prince Of Light Endroll |url=https://archive.org/details/prince-of-light-endroll |access-date=2024-09-21}}</ref> That version was released on 9 November 2001.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Lenburg |first=Jeff |title=The Encyclopedia of Animated Cartoons |date=2009 |publisher=Checkmark Books |isbn=978-0-8160-6600-1 |edition=3rd |location=New York |pages=215–216}}</ref>

Robert Koehler reviewed it for ''Variety'', giving it a critical review. He described the film as a "curious fusion of an interesting if simplified literary adaptation with emphatically second-rate animation technique" and said "the blatantly American vocal casting and direction are painfully out of kilter with the 5,000-year-old Indian setting".<ref>{{Cite news |last=Koehler |first=Robert |date=8 November 2001 |title=The Prince of Light: The Legend of Ramayana |work=Variety |url=https://variety.com/2001/film/reviews/the-prince-of-light-the-legend-of-ramayana-1200552924/#! |url-status=live |access-date=27 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150504101732/http://variety.com/2001/film/reviews/the-prince-of-light-the-legend-of-ramayana-1200552924/#! |archive-date=4 May 2015}}</ref>

The film won "Best Animation Film of the Year" award at the [[Santa Clarita, California|Santa Clarita International Family Film Festival]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Linder |first=Brian |date=2001-12-14 |title=Academy Announces New Ani-Oscar |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2001/12/14/academy-announces-new-ani-oscar |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171119062443/http://www.ign.com/articles/2001/12/14/academy-announces-new-ani-oscar |archive-date=19 November 2017 |access-date=2022-03-26 |website=IGN |language=en}}</ref> In 2001, [[Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences|Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences]] announced a new category, [[Academy Award for Best Animated Feature]]. ''Ramayana'' was one of nine films that qualified for nomination,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Best animated feature will get an Oscar |url=https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2001/12/12/Best-animated-feature-will-get-an-Oscar/62701008199393/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150627070317/http://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2001/12/12/Best-animated-feature-will-get-an-Oscar/62701008199393 |archive-date=27 June 2015 |access-date=2022-03-26 |website=UPI |language=en}}</ref> but ultimately was not.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-12-04 |title=The 74th Academy Awards {{!}} 2002 |url=https://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/2002 |access-date=2024-09-19 |website=www.oscars.org |language=en}}</ref>

==== Voice cast ====
* [[Bryan Cranston]] - [[Rama]]
* [[Edie Mirman]] – [[Sita]]
* [[Tom Wyner]] – [[Ravana]]
* [[Richard Cansino]] – [[Lakshmana]]
* [[Michael Sorich]] – [[Hanuman]]
* [[Mike Reynolds (actor)|Mike Reynolds]] – [[Dasharatha]]
* [[Tony Pope]] – [[Vishvamitra]]
* [[Mari Devon]] – [[Kaikeyi]]
* [[Simon Prescott]] – [[Kumbhakarna]]
* [[Barbara Goodson]] – [[Surpanakha]]
* [[Kirk Thornton]] – [[Indrajit]]
* [[Steve Bulen]] – [[Sugriva]]
* [[Eddie Frierson]] – [[Angada]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==

{{Wikiquote|Ramayana: The Legend of Prince Rama}}
* {{official website|https://ramayana-anime.net/}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20020609001957/http://princeoflightmovie.com/index.html Official Website of "The Prince of Light" – Archive.org] (The site was closed in 2009.)
* [http://www.beliefnet.com/story/73/story_7349_1.html Yugo Sako's Ramayan Odyssey] at [[Beliefnet]]
* {{anime News Network|anime|7792||noparen}}
* {{IMDb title|tt0259534|Ramayana: The Legend of Prince Rama}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20220622191009/https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0296274/ "The Prince of Light" at IMDb – Archive.org]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20160304052703/http://wwwdb.oscars.org:8100/servlet/impc.DisplayCredits?primekey_in=2001120512:30:37965440371 Prince of Light] at [[Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences|Academy of Motion Picture Arts And Sciences]] database

[[Category:1990s adventure drama films]]
[[Category:1993 anime films]]
[[Category:1993 drama films]]
[[Category:1993 films]]
[[Category:Animated adventure films]]
[[Category:Japanese animated drama films]]
[[Category:Animated films based on the Ramayana]]
[[Category:Animated romance films]]
[[Category:Anime in India]]
[[Category:Japanese fantasy adventure films]]
[[Category:Films set in ancient India]]
[[Category:Animated films set in the Middle Ages]]
[[Category:Hindu mythological films]]
[[Category:Indian animated speculative fiction films]]
[[Category:Indian epic films]]
[[Category:Japanese animated fantasy films]]
[[Category:1990s English-language films]]
[[Category:Animated films set in India]]
[[Category:Anime and manga set in India]]
[[Category:English-language adventure drama films]]